The foreign ministry says Taiwan’s relations with the Solomon Island remain stable. That’s in spite of reports that the Pacific island nation could be the next country to sever ties with Taiwan in favor of ties with Beijing.
On Thursday, Deputy Foreign Minister Hsu Szu-chien told lawmakers he’d received assurances from the country’s prime minister that ties with Taiwan will remain firm.
Hsu said bilateral ties will not encounter any problems before the Solomon Islands holds its next election. Hsu also said that if the country’s voters put a new government in charge, Taiwan will work hard to cement ties through assistance, cooperation, and exchanges.
Hsu said that talk of the Solomon Islands cutting ties with Taiwan is the result of misunderstandings.
The country’s ruling party has said it will reevaluate its relationship with Taiwan. Some have taken this to mean the country is thinking of cutting its ties with Taiwan. However, Hsu said this actually means rethinking how the country receives assistance from Taiwan.
A statement by the secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum in support of the “One China Policy” has also led to confusion. Hsu said that the secretary of the organization does not have the authority to make such a pronouncement.
